Khabib Nurmagomedov Makes A Strong Case For Greatest Fighter Of All-Time

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov holds a very important number to his resume – and it is of the smallest quantity.

Twenty eight professionally, an opponent has stepped inside the Octagon or cage, and twenty eight times, Nurmagomedov has had his hand raised as the winner.

At UFC 242 this past weekend in Abu Dhabi, Nurmagomedov earned one of the biggest wins of his career to date, submitting Dustin Poirier to unify the lightweight titles. Poirier came into the fight with plenty of confidence after defeating UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway for the interim title, along with triumphs over former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez and ex-UFC and WEC titleholder Anthony Pettis.

But as he has proven each and every time, Nurmagomedov is just too good and too talented for anybody else.

And that is what makes him so great.

Related: UFC 242 Results: Khabib Nurmagomedov Submits Dustin Poirier

Nobody Has Been Able To Solve Nurmagomedov

Conor McGregor thought he had the right tools to solve “The Eagle.” He did not. Maybe McGregor was hurt, rusty from not competing for several months; no matter the “excuses,” Nurmagomedov made a statement with a fourth round submission after locking in a neck crank.

He even showed his ability to adapt on the fly, accepting a short notice bout with Al Iaquinta after plans with Tony Ferguson fell through once more. Nurmagomedov dominated Iaquinta over 25 minutes to win the vacant UFC lightweight title on that April night.

Edson Barboza could do nothing to stop the constant pressure applied by Nurmagomedov. Neither could Michael Johnson, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos or Abel Trujillo, who was on the wrong end of being taken down a UFC-record 21 times in just 15 minutes.

Since signing with the UFC in 2012, Nurmagomedov has fought 11 times, finishing six opponents in that span.

The G.O.A.T. List Is Khabib, Jon Jones

Jon Jones has been great at light heavyweight, and, like Nurmagomedov, has had issues outside the Octagon. But there is a difference in dominating at one of the biggest weights compared to the lower weights. The variety of opponent coming at Nurmagomedov is just different than that of Jones. Related: Jon Jones Teases Big Fight Announcement ‘Coming Soon’

If Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson finally square off, and Nurmagomedov defends his title with another dominating performance, there will be absolutely no denying his standing as the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time.

Related: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Next Challenger Will Be Tony Ferguson